Someone started painting over the FAILE mural here on the Bowery and East Houston... it went up in early November... not sure just yet who's next for the wall... Anyone know? And why are they painting over this instead of preserving the art...?

We've written a lot about the long-empty 185-193 Avenue B at East 12th Street. A quick recap: There is a demolition application on file already with the city (dated Sept. 20). And, according to the DOB, plans for a mixed-use seven-story building with 44 units are pending with the DOB. (You can read a short history of what's happening with the space here.)

The address was a movie theater for many years, first the Bijou in 1926, then the Charles. (The theater closed in 1975, and a church took over the space.) A fire broke out in the building in October 2006.

Two weeks ago, Brooklyn-based photographer Matt Lambros photographed the space for After the Final Curtain, his excellent photo site on abandoned architecture.

Here are four of the photos that he posted yesterday. (Reposted here with permission.)

Matt said that workers removed the seats about a month ago...

Matt provides a little history of the space too. "By 1937 the Bijou had been sold to the Bell Theater Company. The same year, the Motion Picture Operators Union started a strike for higher wages from the Bell Theater Company; during the strike, two operators locked themselves in the projection booth in protest. Their demands were met 12 hours later and wages were increased to $27.00 a week."

Yesterday, we posted photos of the penthouse peeking out of the top of 219 First Avenue at 13th Street... workers continued to strip the netting from around the former four-floor building... here's how it's looking this morning...

Hmm. Thoughts on this now that you can see the more of the renovated building...?

The other day, we were walking by the former Ben & Jerry's space on Third Avenue and NYU (technically 41 Third Ave.) ... such seemingly prime space has been empty for some time. Jeremiah first reported that Ben & Jerry's was closing (after 22 years at this location) in September 2010.

This year, we'll post photos like this of various buildings, streetscenes, etc., to capture them as they looked at this time and place... The photos may not be the most telling now, but they likely will be one day...

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Earlier, we noted that it was National Pancake Day at IHOP... (a free short stack of pancakes in return for considering leaving a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other designated local charities...)

Tomorrow, the Bean outpost on Second Avenue at East Third Street is holding a Customer Appreciation Day. According to the Bean Facebook page (and these posters), all 12-ounce drinks, hot or cold, will be $1.

According to Crain's New York this afternoon, Village Grill 82 Inc. recently signed a 10-year lease for the 700 square feet of space. Per Crain's: "The eatery, which has yet to be named, is expected to open for business this spring."

Seems as if the northwest corner of First Avenue at 13th Street has been boarded up/under construction since, say, 2005... the ground floor here once housed the Mee Noodle Shop, a favorite spot for Allen Ginsburg...

Well, it's not the same billboard here above the the Downtown Auto & Tire Center at Great Jones ... it's just the same ad for Wódka Vodka that angered Bronx community leaders after the billboard arrived over the Bruckner Expressway leading to Hunts Point, "an area still battling an image as a place to buy sex," as the Daily News reported.

After speaking with the local Community Board, the marketing company removed it last week. Per the marketing guy: "We wanted to help them out. We're going to get rid of the billboard and take it down, and we applaud them for what they're doing in their community."

Hmm.

Anyway, BoweryBoogie notes all this today ... and he has his own take. Meanwhile, we will be petitioning to have that "Rock Center with Brian Williams" ad below it removed ... We'll think of a reason why.

Dave on 7th passes along this sign that he spotted on Seventh Street and Second Avenue... We're unsure if this is supposed to be for or againstHot Kitchen, the Sichuan restaurant that opened last September on Second Avenue near Sixth Street.

In the end, we think this is supposed to be for the place, because their chef doesn't cook and smoke at the same time... and the delivery people don't nibble on your food...

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